Brake mechanism



Nov. 25, 1941.

G. R. PENNINGTON BRAKE MEGHANIS'M Filed Deo. 22, 1939 M m. Tf N my v Patented Nov. 25, 1941 UNITED lS'QIATES PATENT OFFICE BRAKE MECHANISM Gordonn. Pennington, Bloomfield Hills, Mich., assignor to Chrysler Corporation, Highland Park, Mich., a-corporation of Delaware application December 22, 1939, serial- No. 310,478

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in brake mechanism and more particularly to actuating means therefor.

The invention is illustrated and described in connection with manually operable emergency brake actuating apparatus for whichit is particularly useful, although it will be understood that the invention in its broader aspects is not to be limited by the illustrative embodiment.

It has been found that considerable difficulties result from operation of the emergency brake, among which difficulties is the frequency With which the actuating means such as the lever is latched into position so that the brake is only partially applied and does not exert a noticeable drag when the vehicle is moved by engine power.

One of the main objects of the invention is to overcome the aforesaid diculties by the provision in a brake mechanism of an actuating means which can be latched or otherwise secured in a brake applying position only when it is so positioned as to cause the brake to exert a predetermined braking action.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a brake actuating means of a preloaded spring which prevents mechanical retention of the brake actuating means in a brake applying position until a'predetermined braking force is exerted, and which yieldably accommodates such retention when the predetermined braking force has been exerted.

A still further object of the invention is the provision in a brake mechanism having actuating apparatus adapted to be latched or otherwise retained in brake applying position, of a springV actuated stop normally preventing latching of the actuating apparatus in brake applying position and which yicldably accommodates such retention in response to a predetermined braking force applied by the actuating apparatus on the brake.

The braking apparatus embodying the foregoing features compels the operator to apply the brake under all conditions so that the resulting drag is noticeable to an extent as to warn the vehicle operator of the condition of the apparatus. Inasmuch as the preloaded spring is overcome in response to a given or predetermined brake applying force exerted thereon, it will be apparent that limiting wear of the brake parts, such as the band, will not aiect operation of the apparatus in its function of exerting the desired noticeable brake drag warning when the actuating means is latched in brake applying position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in sec-A` tion, of a brake actuating apparatus embodying the invention.

Figs.V 2, 3 and l are cross sectional views taken on the linesy 2 2, 33, and d-ll, respectively, of Fig. 1.

Referring to the' drawing, the invention is illustrated and described as applied to an emergency brake lever of the dash type for use with automotive vehicles. The apparatus includes a support A adapted to be suitably fixed to the vehicle, a lever B pivotally attached to the support A, and a connection C between the lever B and the brake mechanism (not shown) whereby pivotal movement of the` lever B in an anti-clockwise direc-v tion, as viewed in Fig. 1 transmits a brake applying force to the brake mechanism. f

The lever B includes relatively movable parts 5 and E cooperating to provide a grip'portion, the part 5 being in the form of a channel, pivotally attached by pin l to the support A, and receiving therein the correspondingly shaped, relatively short part 6. Pivotally attached by a pin 8 to the lever part 5 is a pawl 9 adapted to selectively engage the ratchet teeth I0 ofthe supportv4 A" whereby the lever can be latched in brake applye ing position. The face oi the pawl adjacent the grip portion of the leverl is provided with a recess Il in which is received the adjacent end of the lever part 6. A coil spring I2 yieldably urges the parts 5 and 6 apart and in so doing tends to rotate the pawl in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 to engage the teeth IIJ. When the lever part 6 is moved toward the part 5 against the action of the spring I2, the pawl is rotated to ay non-engaging position with respect to the teeth I0.

In order to prevent latching of the lever B in a brake applying position until a predetermined braking force has been applied, the pawl 9 is provided with a concave face I 3 receiving a connecting pin I 4 extending through registering openings in the side walls of the channel-shaped lever part 5 and corresponding openings in the spaced side walls of a lever part I6 which is pivotally connected to the support A by the pin 1.

A preloaded spring II acting between the lever parts 5 and I6 urges the pin I4 into the pawl face I3. The pin I4 extends through registering openings in a yoke member I 8 connected with the cable IS of the part C, whereby the latter and the lever B are operatively connected.

'I'he members 5 and I6 constitute relativelyV movable parts which are yieldably urged apart by the preloaded spring I'I, and the elongated openings I and the pin I4 constitute a lost motion connection therebetween, these relatively movable parts moving together in response to movement of the lever B to exert a predetermined brake applying force on the cable I9, until the force exerted by the lever on the cable overcomes the opposition of the spring I'I, whereupon the lost motion connection accommodates relative movement between these lever parts.

As illustrated, the pin I4 is positioned in the face I3 by the spring I1 and acts as a stop to prevent engagement of the pawl 9 with the ratchet teeth I0. When the lever B is moved to exert a brake applying force on the cable I9, the pin I4 Will remain in the illustrated position until the brake applying force is of a magnitude suicient to overcome opposition of the preloaded spring I'I to movement of the pin laterally in the elongated openings I5 to release the Ypawl for engagement with the teeth under influence of the spring I2. When, however, the opposition of the spring I1 is overcome by such movement of the lever, and relative movement between the members 5 and 6 occurs, the pin will move laterally in the elongated openings and free from engagement with the pawl to permit engagement of the pawl with the latch teeth to thereby latch the lever in brake'applying position. The spring is so loaded as to exert a predetermined opposition to release the stop pin I4 from its illustrated blocking position, thus insuring that the brakes will be applied in a manner to exert a predetermined braking action, prior to latching of the lever in a brake applying position. The relative arrangement of the parts, including preloading of the spring II, may be varied to vary the braking action exerted in order to latch the lever in brake applying position, but the arrangement is preferably such that the braking action will be suiiicient to exert a drag which, upon starting of the vehicle or its propelling power, will be sufficient to warn the operator of the condition of the brake or brakes.

Although but one embodiment of the invention is herein shown and described, it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be made without de parting from the spirit of my invention and it is not my intention to limit said invention other than by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an actuating mechanism for a brake, a`

support, a lever including a member pivotally secured to said support, a latch pivotally securedr to said lever member and releasably engageable with said support for retaining said lever in brake applying position, force transmitting means for connecting said lever and brake, a pin connecting said force transmitting means and said lever and engageable with said latch to position the latter out of engagement with said support, a spring acting against said lever member for urging said pin to said position, said pin having a lost motion connection with said lever member accommodating movement thereof relative to the latter and free from engagement with said latch against the opposition of said spring to accommodate engagement of said latch with said support in response to the application of predetermined brake applying force exerted by said lever on said force transmitting connection.

2. In an actuating mechanism for a brake, a support, lever means including a member pivotally secured to said support and a member movable relative to the first mentioned member, avlatch having a recessed portion pivotally secured to said lever means and releasably engageable with said support for retaining said lever means in brake applying position, said latch being pivotally movable by the second mentioned lever mem-ber to release said lever means from its brake applying position, force transmitting means for connecting the brake and lever means, a pin connecting said force transmitting means and the rst mentioned lever member and engaging the recessed portion of said latch for retainingthe latter against latching engagement with said support, a spring yieldably urging said pin in engagement with said latch, said pin having a lost motion connection with said rst mentioned lever member accommodating movement thereof relative to the latter and to said latch against the opposition of said spring to permit engagement of said latch with said support in response to predetermined brake applying force exerted by said lever means on said force transmitting connection.

3. In an actuating mechanism for a brake, a xed member, a pivotally mounted lever, a latch pivotally secured to said lever and releasably engageable with said member for latching said lever in brake applying position, force transmitting means including a yoke for connecting the lever and brake, a pin connecting said yoke and lever and engaging said latch for retaining the latter against latching engagement with said support, a spring urging said pin into engagement with said latch, and means accommodating movement of said pin against the opposition of said spring free from engagement with said latch in response to brake applying movement of said lever.

GORDON R. PENNINGTON. 

